Food Allergies and Summer Fun- Tips and Tools to Keep you Thriving this Summer

Summer is here- at least for most according to the school calendar.  It’s time to start thinking summer activities, days at the pool, fun outings and play dates- all things that make summer so fun.  Having a food allergy can complicate even simple outings so my Thrive On Three this time are some of my favorite stay safe strategies and tools to keep summer cool and safe!

Three ways to Thrive On this summer:

Medicine Must Dos

First and foremost, no matter what you do this summer always be sure your emergency medications are with you.  If you haven’t already, find a carrier that will allow you to easily carry your medication with you no matter where your summer adventures take you.  Check out AllerMates and AllergyApparel for some great carrier options. 

Remember to also keep your medicine temperature controlled.  Summer heat can take a toll on your medicines, so be sure you keep them within the appropriate temperature range. For the EpiPen®, that means between 68° - 77° F.  Frio offers a great option for a carrying case that will keep your pens within the right range. 

Gear Up for Fun

We have navigated quite a few summers with food allergies and have found some very helpful items when eating on the go.

We eat on the road a lot, either on the way to activities or picnicking at the zoo or parks.  One item we use all of the time is our backpack cooler.  We can load up a day’s worth of food and can easily carry other needed supplies all while staying hands free for summer activities. 

Another item we love, our fold-up picnic blanket.  We keep it in our car and have it on hand for picnics and impromptu meals on the go.  It folds up with handles so we can easily carry it with us to parks. It also has a water proof barrier on the bottom so even if the grass is damp we stay dry.  We tend to avoid picnic tables since we never know what was just eaten on that surface so our picnic blanket is a great option.  A great hack for park picnic tables if you need to dine on one- head to the dollar store and grab a few plastic party table clothes and keep them in your car for a need-to-cover-a-table  moment. 

Food Fundamentals

Summer fun usually involves food so be sure you are prepared.  Be sure to talk to friends and party hosts in advance of events to decide on your stay-safe plan- you may decided to take safe dishes to share, eat before the event, or bring a safe meal just for you or your child that you know will be free of your allergens.

Keep your car stocked with non-perishable snacks.  Summer can mean opportunities for spontaneous fun, but when you have food allergies spontaneity can be problematic.  Ensure you have some food options at the ready so if summer fun calls you can stay out.  Stocking safe snacks can give you enough food to get you through until you return home for a safe meal.  We keep a bin in our van filled with Enjoy Life snacks and some of our other safe favorites in case we need a snack while on the go.

Wishing you a safe and fun-filled summer!  Thrive On!


Product Disclaimer:
Thrive On Consulting does not sponsor or endorse the products listed.  Nor has Thrive On Consulting been paid to include these products.  Products mentioned here are provided as ideas and suggestions to help you Thrive On with food allergies.


If you find this post helpful learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals managing food allergies, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter

Faves from the Fest- Gluten Free and Allergy-Friendly Finds at the GFFA Fest

Once again the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest, hosted by Gluten Free and More, proved to be an amazing event that provided connections, information and so much food!  I look forward to this event every year as it provides an opportunity for the gluten-free and food allergy community to come together and enjoy two days filled with support and ideas for thriving on with food restrictions.  Companies from far and wide who get life with food restrictions share their products and knowledge, speakers provide informative sessions and the cooking demos detail great recipes you can recreate for delicious and safe foods at home.

One of my favorite parts of the GFFA Fest is finding new products and resources that I can eat with my family and share with my clients.  Here is my round up of some of my favorite finds at the Columbus GFFA Fest this year.

Fronana

When you have food allergies finding a safe ice cream can be challenging.  From allergen containing pints to the risk of cross contact, some folks choose to forego ice cream altogether.  At the GFFA Fest I met the men behind Fronana, the “Ice Cream for Everyone”.  It is made from bananas and free from the top 8 plus coconut, sesame and corn.  I sampled the Rich Dark Chocolate- it was so refreshing and tasty- hello safe ice cream!

Colette and Franks’s Gluten Free Goodness

I bake a lot from scratch because often times pre-packaged mixes are not safe.  One of my favorite finds at the Fest was Colette and Frank’s mixes.  Free of gluten, dairy, nut, soy and egg their variety of mixes including pancake and bread offer a great solution.  They also offered recipes to make with each mix- my fave was the banana bread made from the pancake mix- so moist and delicious!  While some of the mixes do require egg you can easily use an egg substitution to enjoy these delicious free-from mixes.

Delighted By Dessert Hummus

I read about Delighted By prior to the GFFA Fest and couldn’t wait to try this gluten free and vegan twist on hummus.  A young entrepreneur with a commitment to offering a healthy dessert option is using chickpeas in delightful way.  She has created dessert hummus in a variety of flavors- brownie batter, snickerdoodle, orange-ginger and chocolate chip.  My favorite was the chocolate chip and hope this brand, which is primarily available in the Northeast, finds its way to the Mid-West market soon.

I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter

My family has eaten I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter for years now, but at the Fest I learned that that offer single serve cups that you can purchase online.  You can get both the original creamy and the chocolate soynut butter in the individual cups- perfect for on the go snacks, travel and stocking your car with safe snacks for those just-in-case moments.

Speaking of travel, I had the privilege of presenting at the GFFA Fest on traveling with food allergies and Celiac disease.  It was so wonderful to connect with and talk to so many great people during my presentation.  And, I learned some new things from participants as well!  Love when we all come together to share and Thrive On!

Hope to see you at the next GFFA Fest!



Product Disclaimer:
Thrive On Consulting does not sponsor or endorse the products listed.  Nor has Thrive On Consulting been paid to include these products.  Products mentioned here are provided as ideas and suggestions to help you Thrive On with food allergies.

If you find this post helpful learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals managing food allergies, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter